... before the trade fair

Your first step should be to contact the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), the central institution for protecting intellectual property in Germany. It is here that intellectual property rights are issued and administered.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office is a partner in a network of national, European and international intellectual property rights systems. Further competent partners include the regionally based patent information centres. These provide practical assistance on all questions relating to protecting intellectual property and work closely together with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.

Please note that the nature of the intellectual property rights determines the jurisdiction of the registration authority. Accordingly, you should inform yourself about your specific situation without delay. The names of registration authorities outside Germany and details on individual intellectual property rights can be found on the DPMA cooperations website.

Please check the time periods and geographic areas for which your intellectual property rights are valid. Intellectual property rights must be registered for the country in which the trade fair in question is taking place. You should always carry original documents, certified copies or the registration numbers with you for the purposes of verifying registered intellectual property rights. If any final verdicts have already been returned against the imitator in question, these are also essential as proof.

One effective way of preventing counterfeit and illegally manufactured products from being presented at trade fairs is to file an application for action by customs authorities (“border seizures”). Goods from non-EU countries entering the country for exhibition at trade fairs can be inspected for possible infringement of intellectual property rights by customs officials before the trade fair takes place.

... and during the fair

You should take immediate action. Contact the Messe Frankfurt against Copying team as soon as possible – alternatively, you can contact the emergency legal service in connection with Messe Frankfurt against Copying or your lawyer.

The Messe Frankfurt against Copying team will advise you and provide you with general information on brand and product piracy. If necessary, it will arrange legal assistance via the emergency legal service. The team is available in person at selected events. They can be contacted by calling the hotline +49 69 7575-1273 or by sending an e-mail to againstcopying@messefrankfurt.com

Emergency legal serviceYou can make use of an initial consultation on location through our emergency legal service. During the trade fair opening times, you can reach the lawyers at the following hotline number: +49 69 7575-1212.

LawyerNeedless to say, you can also seek advice from your own lawyer. Together with your chosen legal advisor, you can decide on which legal steps you would like to take.

Civil law measures

Cease-and-desist declaration:

The potential imitator agrees to cease the infringing behaviour (exhibiting, promoting or in some cases selling copied products). In the event of a further infringement, a contractual penalty is to be paid.

You can instruct your legal advisor to formulate a cease-and-desist declaration.

Preliminary injunction:

A temporary court order prohibits the actions of the potential infringer (exhibiting, promoting or in some cases selling copied products).

A preliminary injunction can be obtained from the court by your legal advisor.

Criminal law measures

Another possibility for combating infringements of intellectual property rights is to file a criminal charge with the police. The police are authorised to take action on condition that there is a suspected infringement of intellectual property rights on the part of an exhibitor from the European Union.

The police station is found in the Operation Security Center in Hall 4.0. Southwest and can be contacted by telephone at +49 (0) 69 75 75-65 55.

In the event of infringements of intellectual property rights on the part of exhibitors from non-EU countries, customs officials can take action by carrying out inspections. Please note that customs officials carry out their inspections independently and at selected events. Please find out in good time before the trade fair begins about the procedure for applying to take part in a customs inspection.